Plans for Hike-a-thon 2009

Here is one of the main reasons that I am hiking for the Washington Trails Hike-a-Thon. I go out on a gorgeous weekend to hike some of my favorite trails and I see signs like these: Bridge Out, Trail Closed! It's very disappointing. The WTA's volunteers go out just about every day to do maintenance on our trails in Washington State.

Washington Trails Association Work Parties

And I don't always have the time to go out for a day to help clean up what mother nature has thrown at us...so during August, I like to combine my recreational hiking with fundraising for Washington Trails.

It is glorious summer in the Pacific Northwest and I would be enjoying the outdoors anyway, so it is a great opportunity to make a difference for our local trails.

My plans for 2009 include driving down to Portland with my sister for some hiking in Oregon and along the Oregon coast. Lots of hikes in the Seattle area, with some of my USAirways friends coming along to keep me company! And some letterboxing excursions also around the Puget Sound area.

Issaquah, WA area letterboxes

Port Orchard, WA area letterboxes

Here are a few photos from previous years hiking....Could that be Bella's Truck rusting away on the Olympic Peninsula??

Thanks so much to the folks who have already donated! I have $490 dollars already towards my goal of $1,000!! If you haven't donated yet, you can send a check or cash to me or donate directly to the WTA website with your credit card.

Hike-a-thon '09 Amanda's Fundraising Page

I'll need all pledges by September 3, 2009. For the flight attendants (and pilots) who will be working to Seattle in August, I will be hiking on the layovers on August 5th, 7th, 15th, 17th and 22nd. So if you would like to come along, just drop me an email and I would be happy to pick you up at the Roosevelt and take you out to view some of the natural beauty around Seattle!

Washington Trails Hike-a-thon 2009!

It's that time of year again. I am getting ready for the WTA Hike-a-thon. Studying trail maps and reading trip reports to pick some great trails to hike on in August and spreading the word to everyone I know to help raise money for Washington State Trails.

First of all, thanks to everyone who supported me in 2008 for the Washington Trails Association hike-a-thon. We raised over $1600! Ryan and I did some trail work this year at Mt. Rainier for Earth Day

http://samanark.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

and we saw first hand the amazing things that WTA accomplishes by rebuilding and repairing the trails every season. As usual, I will be hiking during the entire month of August, I hope to get in at least 50 miles. You can pledge a flat donation, such as $50 or an amount per mile, such as $1 per mile. Any contributions over $35 will be eligible for Washington Trails Association Membership. (With membership you receive a Washington Trails Magazine) and all donations are tax deductible. Every little bit helps! Last year I had pledges as low as 10 cents per mile or a flat $3. It all adds up. Just to let you know what your dollars can accomplish, WTA sent me a breakdown of how they use the money.

$25-$99 Can provide treats for a team of volunteers

$100-$249 Can Outfit a crew in hardhats

$250-$499 WTA can purchase 5 or more new trail tools

$500-$749 WTA can lead 1 annual maintenance trip on a popular trail

$750-$999 WTA can lead two rehabilitation work parties

$1,000+ WTA can restore 1 mile (or more) of backcountry trail

I will be updating my blog with all my hiking adventures and the WTA has a webpage for me to track my pledges:

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=800&PID=84263

You can donate directly through that page with your credit card. Or if you do not want to make a pledge by credit card to the website, checks can be made out to WTA (Washington Trails Association) and mailed to me. Of course, cash is always welcome.

Thanks so much!